Spacing element for stereotype plates



y 25, 1954 G. M. CLARK 2,679,078

"SPACING ELEMENT FOR STEREOTYPE PLATES Filedfiec. 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 25, 1954 G. M. CLARK SPACING ELEMENT FOR STEREOTYPE PLATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1950 Patented May 25, 1954 OFF! (3 E 7 2,679,078 SPACING ELEMENT FOR. STEREOTYPE PLATE George M.. Clark, Wakefield, Mass.

Application December 22, 1950, Serial'No. 202,379-

2- Claims. 1

This invention relates to the making of stereo-- type plates, and more particularly where a portion or portions of the plate area are to be occupied by picture printing elements,

While not restricted to such printing elements, the invention is particularly suitable. for use. where the picture plates are prepared by the well known Fairchild photoelectric. engraving. method. The invention will therefore be morev particularly described herein as used in connection with such picture plates;

In the Fairchild process the printing plates are sheets of plastic material, upon one face of whichv the picture has been etched orengraved by an electrically heated stylus electronically controlled by a photograph, or the like, which it is desired to reproduce on the printed sheet. The engraved. sheets are plastic and are sufficiently flexible sothat they'may be readily conformed to a stereotype plate of any desired curvature.

In order to successfully employ such engraved plates, it is necessary that the stereotype plate be cast with a depression of. the proper dimensions and depth to. receive the picture plate properly related to columns of printing matter and to present the printing surface of the picture plate in proper position to print: along: with, other printing subject matter carried: by the.

stereotype plate.

depression in the stereoty zaev plate: produced by applying to the back: face of. a flong. ori'matrix against which the stereotype plate is' to be. cast, a spacing element of accurate thickness and of a size to properly form the depression in the cast plate during the casting. operation; The spacing element constructed for most effective utilization for the purpose formsan important part of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view partly broken away and in section of sheet ma terial from which the matrix or flong backing is made.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional View on line 2-4? of Figure l. v

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the punching dies with the sheet material of Figures 1. and 2 interposed therebetween, ready for a perforating operation to be performed.

Figure 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing the scoring of the sheet material.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a manner of severing the backing material into pieces having the desired dimensions.

Figures '1' and 8 are perspective views showing the front and rear faces, respectively, of a fiong or matrix after the type impression hasbeen made, but before scorching and showing the picture plate space and the backing applied, respectively.

Figure 9 is a sectional view to a larger scale line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 19 is a perspective View showing the hang or matrix after the scorching and partly within a casting box.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view to a larger scale on line H -i i of Figure 10, but after the stereotype plate has been cast.

Figure 12 is aview similar to a portion of Figure ll, but showing the stereotype plate alone with the depression formed to receive the picture engraving.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a picture engraving for application to the stereotype plate.

Figure l l is a perspective view of the stereotype plate showing the engraved' picture. plate in process of being applied thereto.

Figure 15 is a detail sectional View to a larger scale on line l'5-lli of Figure l i.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a backing material for use that will laterbe described, this backing material comprising a lamination-of paper, for example, a Kraft paper l, to one face of which is secured a second lamination 2 of absorptive paper such as blotting paper; The two together form a backing of a predetermined and accurate thickness corresponding to the depth desired of a depression in the printing face or" a stereotype plate formed to receive a picture plate therein.

The outer face of the non-absorbent paper lamination l is preferably coated with a moisture sensitive adhesive 3 such as glue, which, when dry enhances the brittleness of this lamination. This sheet material is preferably perforated at spaced points over substantially its entire area, and for this purpose it may be placed between dies 5 and 5, as shown in Figure 3, one. of the dies, such as 6, having a series of punches 'i which may pass down through the sheet material and into perforations 8 of the die 5. The formation of these perforations provides for escape of moisture from the flong or matrix during the scorching operation and also enhances the flexibility oi the backing material so that it may readily conform to the curvature which it is desired to impart to the flong or matrix to fit the casting box, as will later appear.

A further advantage in employing one brittle lamination is that when the backing material is punched, the action of the punches on the brittle lamination is to snap the punchings out of the holes, leaving clean holes. A fuzzy hole is liable to cause a mark when printing is done.

Preferably, also, the non-absorbent lamination i of the material is scored along parallel lines as at It in Figure 4, a plurality of rotary interrupted scoring disks 1! carried by a shaft l2 being shown in Figure 4 for this purpose. The scoring may extend through the non-absorbent paper lamination, but should not extend through the absorbent or blotting paper layer 2. Preferably, also, the material is scored transversely, as by a similar scoring mechanism. The scoring may be done along parallel lines in both directions and the lines should be so spaced that the material may readily be severed along these lines to any selected of various widths, each being equal to or slightly less than the Width of one or more columns of the printing material. 7

The production of the cross score lines makes it easily possible to sever the material transversely perpendicular to the side edges of the piece which is cut to substantially the size of the picture plate to be employed. As shown in Figure 6,. it is an easy matter by supporting the material on a table It with a portion projecting over the edge thereof, to break off the material sufficiently cleanly along the score lines since the scoring is cut through the non-absorbent paper lamination.

A tempered flong or matrix shown at 26 in Figures 7, 8 and 9 is molded against the desired type of flat condition, so that the imprint of the type is made in the flong material in the usual manner, spaces such as 2! of a shape and size to receive the pictures being left between the columns and lines of type. Portions of the backing material, such as are shown in Figures 1 to 6, and broken off or severed to the desired dimensions, are placed upon the back face of the flong or matrix in the picture areas. By slightly moistening one small portion of each of these backing sections it may be caused to adhere sufficiently to the flong or matrix. The fiong or matrix is then placed in the scorcher, preferably a centrifugal scorcher being employed, in accordance with usual custom, and the treatment in the scorcher causes the rear face of the backing material to be brought into substantially the same level as the rear face of the flong or v matrix Where type impressions have been made therein as shown in Figure 9. The driving off of the moisture in the flong or matrix during the scorching operation causes the moisturesensitive adhesive of the backing to become activated so that the backing material is firmly secured to the back face of the fiong or matrix, the steam from the iiong or matrix finding its way through the perforations through the backing material so that the scorching is satisfactorily and uniformly eifectuated. During scorching the fiong or matrix is also brought to the desired curvature for the casting operation.

It is inserted in the casting box (see Figure 10) with its outer face and. the outer faces of the the backing pieces facing the inner wall of the casting box as shown best in Figure 11 and the molten type metal is poured in against its forward face.

On removing the casting from the casting box and removing the fiong and the backing strip therefrom, the stereotype plate appears in section as shown in Figure 12, the top of the type impressions 26 being raised above the area 27 where the picture printing plate portion is desired. A suitable printing plate 30 such as one made by the Fairchild process, is then inserted and secured in each of the areas formed in the stereotype plate to receive it, as shown in Figure 14. These printing plates being of plastic material, are readily conformed to the curvature of the stereotype plate. They may be secured in position as by the use of a double face adhesive tape. The inner face is caused to adhere to the base of each recess 21, and the outer face is caused to adhere to the picture printing plate, bringing the printing surface of this plate to the printing level of the type faces 26, as shown in Figure 15. The stereotype plate is now in condition to be assembled on the cylinder of the printing press for printing the desired subject matter.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of theinvention and the method of use, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

1. A backing material for a stereotype flong comprising a relatively brittle lamination of ncnabsorbent paper and a blotting paper lamination secured together in face to face relation, said backing material having spaced perforations extending therethrough, and having its non-absorbent paper lamination only scored along parallel and transverse lines.

2. A backing material for a stereotype flong comprising a relatively brittle lamination of nonabsorbent paper and a blotting paper lamination secured together in face to face relation, said backing material having spaced perforations extending therethrough, and having its non-absorbent paper lamination only scored along parallel and transverse lines, the outer face of said non-absorbent paper lamination having a moisture sensitive adhesive coating thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,778,125 Schorger Oct. 1c, 1930 1,927,262 Gould et al Oct. 19, 1933 1,967,444 Lowe July 24, 193i 2,151,024 Gilbert Mar. 21, 1939 2,432,377 Brantley Dec. 9, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,004 Great Britain 1899 

